Dirt instruction in the greater SF Bay area?

Megaplow · 02-01-2013, 11:12 AM

Hey All,
I decided it was time to go more dirt and get a proper dirt bike. Now I am in over my head and could use some dirt lessons. Do any of you know any off road courses < 3 hours from San Francisco?

Thanks,
Joe

mootsuno · 02-01-2013, 05:39 PM

Livermore March 7-8

http://www.shanewatts.com/programs

Hikertrash · 02-03-2013, 08:14 AM

What about some of the Doc Wong clinics? I thought he put one on every now and then.

ramjet · 02-03-2013, 09:20 PM

Doc Wong's clinics deliver some good essentials. You could take those and with continued riding become quite proficient. This is your cheapest option and probably best if your at a beginner level. Shane Watts driils you thoroughly but it won't leave you with enough skill to keep up with the second part which is a trail ride through some single track, rocks and hills if you are at beginner level. Best recommendation I would give is Jimmy Lewis, but he's farther than your listed range. Then there is Rich Oliver's Mystery School which I have not done. Also, Phil ran an school at Sand Hill in Brentwood which he used to own but I believe he sold the property and is now doing some classes out at Carnigie. He teaches some good basics . Kind of a MSF for dirt bikes. He is not Mr. Personality but is OK.

oldxr · 02-04-2013, 01:38 AM

Megaplow-I could meet you out at Carnagie OHV and give you some help.Been riding dirt for 40+ years .Best thing to do is pick an obsticle and ride it over and over untill you master it.Shifting your weight on the footpegs is very important.

mongox · 02-04-2013, 06:44 AM

Get a smaller bike, like a 250 or 300.

aprracer · 02-04-2013, 09:05 AM

You could reach out to Lorne Banks at Adventure Rider International. I heard they are holding a class in Phoenix early March 13.

JAB · 02-04-2013, 02:53 PM

Jimmy Lewis is not next door, but a great class.
I learned a lot.

http://jimmylewisoffroad.com

Heard good things about Watts.

Practice, practice, practice.

Good luck.

AngryShawn · 02-06-2013, 12:43 AM

http://www.garrahanoffroadtraining.com/

There is a class coming up March 23-24

Of course nothing beats just getting out there and riding - the weather is getting nicer and the days longer

wrk2surf · 02-06-2013, 01:42 PM

rich olivers mystery school just south of here in Auberry Ca..

Hikertrash · 02-06-2013, 02:36 PM

Whatdya know.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861277

Craig1200 · 02-07-2013, 04:19 PM

I've taken classes with Kevin Anderson twice. It's a ton of fun, and in my opinion, the best bang for your buck in dirt instruction:

http://www.dirtbikecamp.net/

He's in Orland, so basically the same distance from SF as Thunderhill.

Megaplow · 02-08-2013, 03:09 PM

Thanks everyone!
Some of those camps look like nice vacations. For my schedule it looks like Doc Wong is going to be my instructor.

Joe

02-01-2013, 11:12 AM	#1
Megaplow ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Oddometer: 75	Dirt instruction in the greater SF Bay area? Hey All, I decided it was time to go more dirt and get a proper dirt bike. Now I am in over my head and could use some dirt lessons. Do any of you know any off road courses < 3 hours from San Francisco? Thanks, Joe __________________ 07' KTM 525 EXC Past: 08' KTM 990 Adv Black (I miss you baby) 05' BMW 1200 ST 00' BMW 1150 GS

02-01-2013, 05:39 PM	#2
mootsuno Studly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Cotati, CA Oddometer: 562	Livermore March 7-8 http://www.shanewatts.com/programs __________________ Dean mootsuno

02-03-2013, 09:20 PM	#4
ramjet Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2004 Location: 2096 Oddometer: 1,694	Doc Wong's clinics deliver some good essentials. You could take those and with continued riding become quite proficient. This is your cheapest option and probably best if your at a beginner level. Shane Watts driils you thoroughly but it won't leave you with enough skill to keep up with the second part which is a trail ride through some single track, rocks and hills if you are at beginner level. Best recommendation I would give is Jimmy Lewis, but he's farther than your listed range. Then there is Rich Oliver's Mystery School which I have not done. Also, Phil ran an school at Sand Hill in Brentwood which he used to own but I believe he sold the property and is now doing some classes out at Carnigie. He teaches some good basics . Kind of a MSF for dirt bikes. He is not Mr. Personality but is OK. __________________ Qui Desiderant Pacem Preparate Bellum

02-04-2013, 06:44 AM	#6
mongox ARRRRGH!!! Joined: Apr 2002 Location: Gilroy,ca Oddometer: 2,354	Get a smaller bike, like a 250 or 300. __________________ "First, God made idiots" Mark Twain "Those who dance are considered insane by those who can't hear the music" unknown

02-04-2013, 02:53 PM	#8
JAB Unsprung Weight Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Beautiful Monrovia Oddometer: 1,106	Jimmy Lewis is not next door, but a great class. I learned a lot. http://jimmylewisoffroad.com Heard good things about Watts. Practice, practice, practice. Good luck. __________________ 1991 Honda XR628R 1978 Yamaha XT500 1965 Hodaka Ace 90

02-03-2013, 08:14 AM	#3
Hikertrash Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Arizona Oddometer: 1,107	What about some of the Doc Wong clinics? I thought he put one on every now and then.

02-04-2013, 01:38 AM	#5
oldxr Studly Adventurer Joined: Jan 2007 Location: central komifornia Oddometer: 615	Megaplow-I could meet you out at Carnagie OHV and give you some help.Been riding dirt for 40+ years .Best thing to do is pick an obsticle and ride it over and over untill you master it.Shifting your weight on the footpegs is very important.

02-04-2013, 09:05 AM	#7
aprracer n00b Joined: Jan 2013 Location: West Palm Beach/winter NM/Summer Oddometer: 1	You could reach out to Lorne Banks at Adventure Rider International. I heard they are holding a class in Phoenix early March 13.

02-06-2013, 12:43 AM	#9
AngryShawn Punchbowl Pooper Joined: Sep 2006 Location: Sonoma County, Ca Oddometer: 377	http://www.garrahanoffroadtraining.com/ There is a class coming up March 23-24 Of course nothing beats just getting out there and riding - the weather is getting nicer and the days longer __________________ Barnstormerracing.com Proudly sponsored by: MX1WEST GUEnergy Dunlop Factory Backing Dubya D-36 AMA #196F - Supermoto USA #47 - BITD #379 - MCMA #430

02-06-2013, 01:42 PM	#10
wrk2surf BITD/Rallye Joined: Dec 2007 Location: THE exact center of California/Bass lake/Yosemite Oddometer: 5,350	rich olivers mystery school just south of here in Auberry Ca.. __________________ Thanks for the 2013 support: DUNLOP, BELL HELMETS, Kriega USA, Carbon-pro.com, Ride 100% Goggles, Renazco Racing, Sidi/Motonation, Acerbis USA,KLeN, FMF, Mx1west,,Masters paint and body, Magura , motolab ,and Freedom Cycle

02-06-2013, 02:36 PM	#11
Hikertrash Beastly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2011 Location: Arizona Oddometer: 1,107	Whatdya know. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=861277

02-07-2013, 04:19 PM	#12
Craig1200 Adventurer Joined: Sep 2006 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 20	I've taken classes with Kevin Anderson twice. It's a ton of fun, and in my opinion, the best bang for your buck in dirt instruction: http://www.dirtbikecamp.net/ He's in Orland, so basically the same distance from SF as Thunderhill.

02-08-2013, 03:09 PM	#13
Megaplow ^OP Adventurer Joined: Oct 2006 Location: San Francisco Oddometer: 75	Thanks everyone! Some of those camps look like nice vacations. For my schedule it looks like Doc Wong is going to be my instructor. Joe __________________ 07' KTM 525 EXC Past: 08' KTM 990 Adv Black (I miss you baby) 05' BMW 1200 ST 00' BMW 1150 GS

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